Feed-gage for printing-presses.



N0. 7||,779. Patented Oct. 2|, I902.

. E. L. MEGILL. FEED GAGE FOR PRINTING PnEs'sE's.

A (Application filed Oct. 8,1901.) No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES:INVENTOR ATTORNEY mus PETERS co. momuma, WASHINPTUN, u 0.

No. 7ll,779. I Patented Oct. 2|, I902.

E. L. MEGILL.

F EED GAGE FOB PRINTING PRESSES. (Application filed Oct. 8, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

Edi/0.

WITNESSES Grime/i a ATTORN [Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. MEGILL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FEED-GAGE FOR PRlNTlNG-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 711,779, dated October21, 1902. Application filed October 3, 1901. Serial No. 77,357. (Nomodel.)

[ class of feed guides and gages for the proper placing of the sheet onthe platen of the press, of which class the gage shown in the UnitedStates Patent No. 596,214, granted to me December 28, 1897, is oneexample. The purpose of the device is in the main to provide means forautomatically placing properly a misplaced sheet through the medium of agripper on the press.

One of the important features of the preszo ent invention residesin themeans for mounting the device adjustably and with accuracy on thetympan-sheet of the press, and another feature resides in the particularconstruction of the gage, as will be hereinafter more fully z 5described.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of theinvention and its application, Figure l is a side elevation of the gage.Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3

is a plan with the operating arm and spring partly broken away to betterdisclose the parts below or beneath. Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmetary detailviews, on a larger scale, illustrating the hinge construction. Fig. 6

is a perspective view of the gage detached.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail views of parts of the gage. Fig.9is a plan view of the gummed retainer of the gage. Fig. 10 is a generalplan or face view of the platen of 0 a printing-press, showing theapplication of the gage thereto. Figs. 11 and 12 are views illustratingthe application of the invention to a front gage for the sheet.

In Fig. 10, X designates an ordinary platen of a printing-press,Y thegrippers thereof,and

Z the tympan-sheet stretched over the platen in the usual wayand by theusual means. All of these parts are too common in platenprinting-presses to require special description.

S represents a sheet on the platen in position to be printed upon, theproper position ing of the sheet on the platen with respect to the formbeing secured ordinarily by a side gage or guide (usually at the left)and two front or bottom gages.

In Fig. 10 the two front gages are designated as a whole by B B and theside gage by A. It is in these gages and the means for securing them tothe tympan-sheet in an adjustable manner and without cutting or in anyway puncturing the said sheet that the present invention resides.

The side gage A will be first described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8,promising that devices of this class have been calledautomaticsheetguidesandsetters. Preliminarily it may be stated that thisgage A is designed to be employed as a side guide or gage for the sheet;that it is made from thin sheet metal, so that when the gripper whichbears upon it at the time the impression is made and compresses it willnot be elevated appreciably; that the pressure of the gripper shall movethe sliding gage-head over the tympansheet and up to the gaging point orline on the latter, and that when the pressure is relieved the gage-headwill be movedback again automatically. All of these features exist inthe gage of my previous patent before mentioned; but in the present casethe construction is different.

1 is the base-plate of the gage, which will be by preference of thinsheet metal.

2 is the operating presser-arm, also of sheet metal and relatively quitebroad. This arm is hinged to lugs 3 on the base-plate and rests on thecrown or arch of a broad spring 4, of thin resilient metal, which ishinged or secured to the base-plate at 4 Figs. 4 and 5, independently ofthe arm 2. The sliding gage proper is seen detached in Fig. 8. Its body5 is slidably mounted in keepers 6 on the baseplate, and it has ahead 7,which extends transversely of the body 5, one branch of said head beingcurved upward and spring-like and having on its upturned branch orextremity a T- head 7. This gage proper (see Fig. 8) has a slot 8 and ahook 9, by which it is coupled to the front or free end of the spring 4,which has an aperture 10, Figs. 6 and '7, to be engaged by the hook 9.When there is no pressure on the gage, the spring 4 assumes the archedor curved form clearly seen in Figs.

1 and 6, thus elevating the arm 2 and drawterfere with its properworking, and it is one of the objects of the present invention toovercome this difliculty.

The tympan-sheet is stretched smoothly over the platen, and it has beenthe common practice to secure a gage thereto by a pin or spur whichpunctures the sheet. This means of attachment is objectionable, as it isimportant to keep the tympan-sheet intact. Another means which has beenemployed is to gum or paste the gage directly to the tympansheet; butthis is objectionable for various reasons, one being the difliculty ofattaining proper adjustment.

The means I employ for securing the gage to the tympan-sheet will now bedescribed. At the sides of the gage are like clamping devices, eachcomprising a thin disk or plate 11 below the base-plate 1, an uprightscrewthreaded stud 12, fixed in said disk and extending up through ahole in the base-plate, and a milled nut 13, screwed onto the upper endof said stud. Operating in connection with these devices is a gummedretainer 14, Fig. 9. This retainer will be by preference of thin strongpaper out to substantially the form shown and provided with strips ofgum 14 and two slots 14 spaced to receive the studs 12. When thisretainer is gummed to the tympan-sheet, two pockets are formed adjacentto the slots 14 to receive the disks 11, which when the gage A is placedin position take under the sheet of the retainer 14, while thebase-plate 1 takes over said sheet. When so placed, by screwing up thenuts the retainer-sheet will be clamped between the disks 11 and thebase-plate and the gage thus securelyheld in place. At the same time thegage may be readily and accurately adjusted on the tympan-sheet byslightlyloosening one or both of the nuts 13, as will be readilyunderstood. This means of securing the gage has important advantages.When there are two adjustable securing-points, the gage cannot turn, asit is liable to do about a single securing-point. The constructionprovides for a relatively long adjustment without perforating orslitting the tympan-sheet. The dry gum on the retainer permits thelatter to be secured to the tympan-sheet without wetting said sheet toany material extent; but the use of dry gum is not essential. Theretainer may be secured directly to the metal of the platen if desiredor if the occasion re quires it.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing one of the simple bottom gages Bprovided with means for retaining it in place on the tympansheet, whichare of the same character as that described for the side gage A. Theretainer 15 for this gage is seen detached in Fig. 12 and is providedwith gummed portions 15 and a slot-15 The gage B comprises a gagehead 16on an upper base-plate 1, a thin under plate 11, provided with anupright screw-threaded stud 12, which projects up through thebase-plate, and a milled nut 13.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the detent whereby the extent of the upward movementof the arm 2 is limited. On the arm are rearward projections 17 back ofthe hinging-rod- 18, and these bear on stops 1.9 on the base-plate whenthe arm is elevated.

It will be understood by inspection that it will not be necessary inorder to protect the working parts beneath from fouling with ink thatboth the operating or pressure arm. and the arched spring shall be wide;but it is preferred to make them so. The means for securing or clampingthe base-plate to the retainer 14 may be varied. A screw-operated devicefor this purpose is preferred.

It will be seen, especially in Fig. 9, that the material of the retainer14 is not of the same width between the slots 14 'that it is at its endsand that consequently the material extends out at one side of the mouthof the slot more than at the other side. This is to facilitate the entryof the shanks of the clamping-screws 12 in the respective slots inplacing the gage. The walls of the slots which extend out farthest fromconvenient guides for the screws of the securing devices.

The operation is as follows: When the platen of the press moves up tothe form and the gripper moves up to the platen, the gripper firstencounters the arm 2 and presses it fiat up to or upon the platen, thuscausing said arm to press upon the arched spring 4, which is alsoflattened and straightened. In straightening out, the free end of thespring 4 moves outward, carrying with it the sliding gage proper, thusmoving the head 7 of the latter out to the gage point or line. The sheetS, which has been placed up to and against the upwardly-curved branch ofthe head 7, is thus also moved out to the gagepoint. The gripper bearson the yielding spring-like upturned end of the gage-head 7 and alsopresses it to the platen. The T- head 7 on the upturned end of thegage-head 7 serves to provide a broad or laterally-extended tip on therelatively slender and usually slightly tapered gage-head 7 for thegripperY to impinge upon. As seen in Fig. 1,

the gripper may take over the entire gagehead '7, or it may, asindicated by the dotted line in Fig. 8, only take over and bear on oneof the branches of the T-head 7 and this will serve to flatten down thegage-head. In any case the gripperwill cross the arm 2 and bear thereonin front of the body of the gage.

By hinged as herein employed with reference to the arm 2 and spring 4 ismeant the mounting to turn about a hinge-pin as distinguished from anintegral construction,such

as that shown in my former patent, No. 596,214.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. An adjustableregistering-gage, having a base-plate, and a plurality of screw clampingmechanisms for securing said base-plate adjustably on the tympan-sheetat different points.

2. An adjustable registering-gage device having a slidable gage and twoseparate adjustable clamping devices for securing the,

registering-gage device on the platen, said securing devices beingsituated at opposite sides of the slidable gage.

3. A feed-gage fora platen printing-press, having a screw clampingdevice for securing it in place on the platen, in combination withadapted to be secured to the tympan-sheet and to form pockets to receivesaid disks, substantially as set forth.

5. An automatic registering-gage having a base-plate, a broad spring 4:hinged to said plate, a broad presser-arm 2 hinged to said plateindependently of the spring, anda sliding gage 5 mounted in keepers onthe baseplate under the spring and coupled to the latter, substantiallyas set forth.

6. An automatic registering-gage having a base-plate, a sliding gagemounted on the base-plate, a spring to operate said sliding gage, and apresser-arm hinged to the basedirectly over the longiplate, said armbeing gage, whereby side tudinal axis of the sliding draft is avoided.

7. An automatic registering-gage, having a base-plate, a broadpresser-arm hinged to said plate, a sliding gage proper the body ofwhich is mounted slidably on the base-plate wholly under the said armand extending longitudiha'vin g a base-plate,

nally parallel with the latter, and a spring for operating said slidinggage.

8. The combination with the registeringgage and the means for securingthe same to the retainer, of the said retainer having in its edge twoslots, the material of the retainer extending out farther at one side ofthe mouth of the slot than at the other, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. An automatic registering-gage having a presser-arm, a sliding gageproper provided with a spring-like head 7 having a T-shaped extremity 7for the gripper to bear on, and a spring for operating said slidinggage.

10. An automatic registering-gage device an operating-arm hinged to saidbase-plate, a sliding gage, and means to operate said gage disposedbetween, the said arm and gage, said means being disposed directly overthe longitudinal axis of the body of the sliding gage, whereby sidedraft is avoided in operating said gage.

11. The combination with a registeringgage, having clamping devices, ofa retainer distinct from and adapted to be pasted or gummed to thetympan-sheet, said retainer having in it slots to receive the clampingdevices, whereby the gage may be secured adjustably on the platenwithout cutting the tympan-sheet.

12. An automatic and adjustable gage device having a base-plate, aslidable gage, an arm and spring for operating the latter, and clampingdevices for securing the base-plate of the gage device to the platen,the said clamping devices being set in line at an angle to the path ofthe slidable gage, and the point on the operating-arm upon which thegripper is intended to impinge for operating the gage being situated ona line between the said clamping devices and the gage-head.

13. An automatic and adjustable gage device having a base-plate, aslidable gage, an arm and spring for operating the latter, and clampingdevices for securing the base-plate on the platen, the said clampingdevices being set in a line at an angle to the path of the sliding gage,and the depressible head of said gage being in advance of said line forthe gripper to impinge upon.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 27th day ofSeptember, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD L. MEGILL.

Witnesses:

PETER A. Boss, H. ALAN OONNETT.

